Bermuda

Officially known as Bermuda Islands or the Somers Isles, Bermuda is a British overseas territory located in the North Atlantic Ocean. It consists of around 138 islands with a total land area of 53.3 square kilometers. Bermuda has 2 incorporated municipalities – the City of Hamilton, and the Town of St. George. It is made up of “parishes” and further divided into “villages” such as the Flats Village, Somerset Village, and Tucker’s Town. Winters are normally mild and have average day temperatures of about 20°C in January and February. While during summers temperatures can reach as high as 30°C especially in August.

Hill View, Warwick, Bermuda, SourceBermuda was discovered by the Spanish voyager Juan de Bermudez in 1503. The English Civil War broke in 1649 and resulted to the Bermudian civil war. When the American Revolution ended, the Royal Navy started rebuilding the harbors and built huge dockyard. The government of Bermuda is parliamentary representative democratic. The Monarch appoints the Governor (Sir Richard Hugh Turton Gozney). The Premier (Ewart Brown) is the head of the government. Bermuda’s GDP in 2007 is $5.85 billion with a per capita of $91,477, the highest in the world. The country is home to a number of large global financial companies in the world making it an offshore financial center. The Bermuda Stock Exchange (BSX) established in 1971 is the biggest fully electronic offshore securities market in the world with capitalization of more than $300 billion.

The culture of Bermuda is a combination of Native American, African, Spanish-Carribean, and Irish influences. Its population is made up of 54.8% black, 34.1% white, and 6.4% multiracial. English and Portuguese remain the most spoken languages in the country. Dance and music are important elements of the Bermudian culture that came from Native American and African slaves. Football, cricket, sailing, rugby and golf are the favorite sports in the country.

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